Southern Oaks Golf Club

(2007) Huge dissappointment this year. I have been twice, once at the beginning of spring and once just after the rains.

At $50 a round this course should be in much better playing conditions, especially the greens. Not sure what is going on here, but the course seems to be struggling financially and the greens and some of the fairways are showing it. They have reduced staff and grounds crews.

For the money, this is not that great a course as the greens are just not up to snuff. Not sure what is giong on with them but they have complete bald spots on the edges and in the middle with no sand under, just mudd. I know the areated this past year because I was there to endure the conditions when they did it.

I have to rate this course at least a star lower and it is not one that I want to go play again, but probably will because it is one of the courses that we like since it is a links style course. I just hope I play it at a much lower fee, because it is not worth playing at the elevated fee it requires now.

Hopefully they will turn it around soon.


(2006 review)One of my Favorites

This course in a great course. Always in good repair, fairways, bunkers, greens, and tee boxes are in excellent shape. I drive easily 30 minutes to play this course, I think it is an excellent value for the level of maintainance they put into it. The greens are always good with hard to read slopes that make putting a challenge. This is also a long course that you can pull your driver out on almost every par 4 and 5. They only ones you might want to hit 3 wood or 4 iron off of are thetighter holes lines with trees. I think I have hit every tree out there at one time or another.

The practive area is nice with a putting green and seperate short game area, but you cannot get much more than a 40 yard shot to the practice green. Still, it does have bunkers and about every short shot you will face on the course right there.

I do not know how much membership is, but if I was closer this could easily become my home course. Recently they have been printing out the score cards, which I find a little frugal. I am not sure why they have decided to do this, I hope it is not a sign they are struggling. One of the things I love about this course besides it shape and layout is the fact that it is not over played. I have only had one slow game at this course as we were behind a tournament. We elected to re-play the front 9 and were able to sail through as the tournament players were all on the back 9.

I have had one bad experience here when they areated the greens. When we made our tee-time, the shop did not disclose to us that the greens were all under repair. This was a frustrating point for me as I would have avoided the course that day, or at least expected a big discount. So, at the normal times a course does this (Oct - Nov and Mar - April) you might want to ask before you book. The greens are all back to normal now.

Needs maintenance

Good challange at the tips (7300+) yards and good forward tee placement for the beginners. Needs maintenance, grass should be grown in after 8 years..many bare areas in rough...many areas of rough were not even cut and 6 inches deep.

Great Value

Fairways and greens in great shape despite brutal heat wave.